Method for producing renewable fuels

ABSTRACT

According to the present invention, organic material is converted to biogas through anaerobic digestion and the biogas is purified to yield a combustible fluid feedstock comprising methane. A fuel production facility utilizes or arranges to utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewable hydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons in a process to make transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen is combined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons that have been desulfurized under conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen or alternatively, the renewable hydrogen can be added to a reactor operated so as to simultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate the hydrocarbons. The present invention enables a party to receive a renewable fuel credit for the transportation or heating fuel.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for transforming waste organicmaterial to produce a liquid transportation or heating fuel.

BACKGROUND

A majority of the energy used to provide fuels today is derived fromfossil fuels, despite much effort and research on various alternativeenergy or non-fossil fuel options. The utilization of renewable biomassto produce fuel has been promoted by various governments, including theUnited States government through the Energy Independence and SecurityAct (“EISA”) of 2007. Some of the purposes of the act are to increasethe production of clean renewable fuels, to promote research on anddeploy greenhouse gas (“GHG”) capture and to reduce fossil fuels presentin fuels. Notably, the act sets out a Renewable Fuels Standard (“RFS”)with increasing annual targets for the renewable content of fuel sold orintroduced into commerce in the United States.

The mandated annual targets of renewable content in fuel are implementedthrough an RFS that uses tradable credits (called RenewableIdentification Numbers, referred to herein as “RINs”) to track andmanage the production, distribution and use of renewable fuels fortransportation or other purposes. RINs can be likened to a currency usedby obligated parties to certify compliance with mandated renewable fuelvolumes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is responsiblefor overseeing and enforcing blending mandates and developingregulations for the generation, trading and retirement of RINs.

Many approaches have been developed to use renewable biomass to producetransportation fuel or biofuels. Commercial biofuel production fromcarbohydrates currently employs starch or sugar cane as the feedstock.Production of ethanol from corn starch is widespread and ethanol fromthis source is considered a renewable fuel, and a first generationbiofuel. It is often blended with gasoline, for example at levels ofapproximately 10% and the resulting blended gasoline can be consideredto be a partially renewable transportation fuel. A given volume of suchethanol can have a RIN associated with it. This RIN is transferable tobuyers of the ethanol or to producers of finished transportation fuelwho use the ethanol to manufacture their finished transportation fuel.

However, starch and sugar cane are in high market demand as a foodsource for humans and animals, put upward pressure on food costs andthus are expensive and undesirable feedstocks for biofuel production. Bycontrast, agricultural residues and other non-food waste are inexpensivedue to their wide availability and limited market value, and do not putpressure on food costs. Consequently, non-food feedstocks offer anattractive alternative to the starch and sugar cane feedstocks used todate as a source for biofuel production.

One of the leading approaches to producing liquid fuel from renewablefeedstock involves the conversion of cellulosic biomass, a non-foodsource, to simple alcohols, such as ethanol, butanol and methanol. Thesealcohols can be used in a mixture with gasoline, or in their pure form,as liquid transportation fuel. Much attention and effort has beenapplied in recent years to the production of such liquid fuels fromcellulosic biomass.

Cellulosic ethanol, in particular, has been the subject of significantresearch efforts. One of the leading technologies for producing ethanolfrom cellulosic biomass involves subjecting agricultural waste or otherfeedstocks containing cellulose to a series of chemical and biologicaltreatments to produce glucose, which is then fermented to produce theethanol. In particular, the process includes a chemical and/or heatpretreatment to improve the accessibility of the cellulose contained inthe feedstock. This is followed by an enzymatic hydrolysis withcellulase enzymes to convert the cellulose to glucose. The glucose isfermented to ethanol by microorganisms, optionally in the presence ofother sugars derived from the feedstock.

Other research efforts have been devoted to methanol and isobutanolproduction. One approach for producing methanol includes athermochemical treatment of a feedstock to produce syngas, which iscomposed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The syngas is subsequentlyconverted into the methanol, or other alcohols, with the aid of achemical catalyst. Further research efforts have been directed toisobutanol production from renewable feedstocks by fermentation withyeast genetically engineered for such purpose.

Research and development efforts have also been directed towards theproduction of oils and diesels from renewable biomass. One technologyincludes a biomass catalytic cracking process that employs heat and acatalyst to convert biomass to a renewable crude oil with a relativelylow oxygen content. Further, microorganisms have been used to fermentfeedstock into carboxylic acids, which are then neutralized to formcarboxylate salts. The carboxylate salts are then dewatered, dried andthermally converted to ketones, which are subsequently hydrogenated toform alcohols that can be refined into diesel or other fuels.Furthermore, oil can be produced from microalgae, which can then beconverted to renewable diesel for ships or jet fuel. Moreover, othergroups are investigating the production of biodiesel by yeastfermentation of feedstocks to an isoprenoid, which in turn is convertedto diesel by a multi-step finishing process.

Other research efforts have been directed towards the production ofgaseous hydrogen for direct use as a transportation fuel, which can beused in an internal combustion engine or a fuel cell. Such hydrogen canbe produced by a variety of techniques. Some of the processes describedin the literature include biomass pyrolysis or gasification andbiological processes, such as bacterial fermentation and enzymatichydrogen production.

At present, however, there is limited technical and economicinfrastructure to support the widespread use of hydrogen directly as atransportation fuel. Although much effort has been devoted to using thegas as a transportation fuel, hydrogen is highly volatile and thus isdangerous to store and transport.

Yet another approach to generate a gaseous renewable fuel from wastefeedstock includes anaerobic digestion of organic material derived fromplants, vegetation, municipal waste, animal waste, animal byproducts,manure, sewage sludge, food waste, food processing waste, agriculturalresidues including corn stover and wheat straw and/or other biomass,hereinafter referred to collectively as “waste organic material”. Thecombustible product of this digestion is referred to herein as “biogas”which may be produced by anaerobic digestion of any waste organicmaterial. A main constituent of biogas is methane, although the gas alsocontains carbon dioxide and other components, depending on its source.The biogas may be produced by decomposing waste organic material underanaerobic conditions, such as in landfills.

There are commercial biogas applications that use biogas to produceelectricity. In farming operations, biogas has been used to fuelengine-generators to produce electricity for on-farm use. In landfilloperations, projects are underway to use biogas for electricitygeneration, either for on-site use or to sell to the grid. Other uses ofbiogas that have been described include transmitting biogas via pipelineto be combusted by an end user to fuel boilers, dryers, kilns,greenhouses, and other thermal applications. Furthermore, in developingcountries biogas is used for cooking.

The commercialization of processes for using biogas as a fuel has metlimited success despite research and development efforts in this area.Although conventional gasoline powered automobiles can be run on biogas,they need to be retrofitted with compressed natural gas cylinders, whichtake up significant space in the trunk of a car or the bed of a pickuptruck. To overcome the storage problems, automobiles need to bespecially manufactured to accommodate the tanks under the body of thevehicle. Moreover, infrastructure required for biogas refueling is bothcostly and complex to implement and the demand for methane-fueledautomobiles is relatively low. Thus, refueling stations are not alwaysplentiful or conveniently located.

Although there have been numerous and wide ranging research effortsdevoted to the implementation of renewable fuel production, the existingtechnologies for producing transportation or heating fuels withrenewable content have been difficult to commercialize for variousreasons. Despite business and legislative efforts to promote theproduction of renewable transportation or heating fuels, little progresshas been made. There is therefore a need for a process that allows theenergy in biomass to be captured and used in transportation fuel forconventional automobiles. Furthermore, there is a need to commercializethe use of biomass and other renewable resources as a source of energy,particularly for transportation or heating fuel. Technology thatproduces transportation or heating fuel from non-food biomass waste in acost-effective manner would be desirable.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method fortransforming waste organic material to produce a liquid transportationfuel.

The present invention provides a simple and cost effective method toutilize the energy in waste organic material to increase the renewableenergy content of transportation fuels used commercially in conventionalautomobiles. The invention provides a method for using renewable biomassto replace or reduce the quantity of fossil derived energy present intransportation and heating fuels.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved methodfor transforming waste organic material to produce a heating fuel, suchas home heating fuel and commercial heating fuel, heating fuels madefrom naphtha, liquid petroleum gas, kerosene, or other heating fuelsthat can be made in accordance with the process of the invention.

The present invention provides a renewable fuel or a fuel havingrenewable content that is produced from renewable biomass. Renewablefuel or fuel having renewable content is produced from a renewablebiomass and is used to replace or reduce the quantity of fossil fuelpresent in a transportation fuel or heating fuel. The replacement orreduction of fossil fuel is based on an aggregate of fossil fuels on amacro level or it can be based on the actual fuel produced or both. Thefuel may be a partially renewable fuel, meaning that it is produced byco-processing a feedstock derived from renewable biomass andnon-renewable feedstocks. Preferably, the fuel is a transportation fuel.

The fuel produced by the invention, including transportation and heatingfuel, is made by a process that comprises a step of hydrogenation.According to one aspect of the present invention, waste organic materialis converted to crude biogas through anaerobic digestion and the biogasis purified to yield a combustible fluid feedstock comprisingpredominantly methane; a fuel production facility utilizes or arrangesto utilize combustible fluid feedstock to generate renewably sourcedhydrogen that is used to hydrogenate crude oil derived hydrocarbons tomake liquid transportation or heating fuel products that containrenewable content. Preferably, this renewably sourced hydrogen iscombined with crude oil derived hydrocarbons that have been desulfurizedunder conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with therenewable hydrogen or alternatively, the renewably sourced hydrogen canbe added to a reactor operated so as to simultaneously desulfurize andhydrogenate the hydrocarbons, preferably using non-renewable hydrogen todesulfurize.

The invention further provides a means for satisfying renewable fueltargets or mandates established by governments, including legislationand regulations for transportation fuel or heating fuel sold orintroduced into commerce in the United States. The invention alsoprovides a means for satisfying low carbon fuel standards established bygovernments including states within the United States such asCalifornia. Transportation or heating fuel produced by the process ofthe present invention or intermediates produced thereunder are believedto be eligible for generation of RINs or tradable certificates.

The invention can be considered as a method of producing a fuel,preferably a liquid transportation fuel, comprising the steps of (i)producing renewable hydrogen from a combustible fluid feedstock,preferably a biogas derived combustible fluid feedstock; (ii) combiningthe renewable hydrogen with a desulfurized, crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon in a reactor under conditions to hydrogenate the liquidhydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen; (iii) producing a fuel that hasassociated with it lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to baselineemissions for gasoline, preferably at least 20% lower than baselineemissions for gasoline, more preferably at least 30%, 40% 50% lower thanbaseline emissions for gasoline; and optionally (iv) receiving arenewable fuel credit as described herein and known in the art.Alternatively, an amount of renewable hydrogen can be combined with acrude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon and an additional effective amountof hydrogen of sufficient quantity to desulfurize the crude oil derivedliquid hydrocarbon in a reactor under conditions to simultaneouslydesulfurize and hydrogenate the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon,where preferably the amount of hydrogen that becomes bonded to the crudeoil derived liquid hydrocarbon is greater than or equal to two thirds ofthe amount of renewable hydrogen.

According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a methodof transforming waste organic material to produce a liquidtransportation or heating fuel comprising: (a) subjecting waste organicmaterial to anaerobic digestion by microorganisms in a biogas productionfacility that incorporates apparatus to collect the microbiallygenerated biogas; (b) collecting an amount of crude biogas from thebiogas production facility; (c) removing impurities from the crudebiogas to yield a combustible fluid feedstock; (d) introducing a firstamount of combustible fluid feedstock from step (b) or (c) to apparatusfor delivering a combustible fluid feedstock to a fuel productionfacility; (e) withdrawing for use at a fuel production facility a secondamount of combustible fluid feedstock approximately equal to the firstamount of combustible fluid feedstock; (f) processing at the fuelproduction facility the second amount of combustible fluid feedstock toproduce renewable hydrogen; and (g) producing a third amount of liquidtransportation or heating fuel by a process that comprises combiningrenewable hydrogen derived from the second amount of combustible fluidfeedstock with a desulfurized, crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon in areactor under conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with therenewable hydrogen.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of producinga transportation or heating fuel comprising: (a) causing a first amountof combustible fluid feedstock to be introduced to apparatus fordelivering a combustible fluid feedstock to a fuel production facility,the first amount of combustible fluid feedstock being derived from acrude biogas that was generated by anaerobic digestion of waste organicmaterial and from which impurities were removed following collectionfrom a biogas production facility; (b) withdrawing for use at a fuelproduction facility, a second amount of combustible fluid feedstockapproximately equal to the first amount of combustible fluid feedstock;(c) processing at the fuel production facility the second amount ofcombustible fluid feedstock to produce renewable hydrogen; and (d)producing a third amount of liquid transportation or heating fuel by aprocess that comprises combining renewable hydrogen derived from thesecond amount of combustible fluid feedstock with a desulfurized, crudeoil derived liquid hydrocarbon in a reactor under conditions tohydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen.

According to a further aspect, there is provided a method of producing acombustible fluid feedstock for use in producing a transportation orheating fuel, the method comprising: (a) subjecting waste organicmaterial to anaerobic digestion by microorganisms in a biogas productionfacility that incorporates apparatus to collect the microbiallygenerated biogas; (b) collecting an amount of crude biogas from thebiogas production facility; (c) removing impurities from the crudebiogas to yield a combustible fluid feedstock; (d) introducing a firstamount of combustible fluid feedstock from step (b) or (c) to apparatusfor delivering a combustible fluid feedstock to fuel productionfacility; and (e) causing a fuel production facility to use combustiblefluid feedstock in a process for producing transportation or heatingfuel, the process comprising: (i) withdrawing for use at a fuelproduction facility a second amount of combustible fluid feedstock fromthe apparatus approximately equal to the first amount of combustiblefluid feedstock; (ii) processing the second amount of combustible fluidfeedstock to produce renewable hydrogen; and (iii) combining renewablehydrogen derived from the second amount of combustible fluid feedstockwith a desulfurized, crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon in a reactorunder conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with therenewable hydrogen.

According to another aspect, the present invention further provides amethod of transforming waste organic material to produce a liquidtransportation or heating fuel comprising: (a) subjecting waste organicmaterial to anaerobic digestion by microorganisms in a biogas productionfacility that incorporates apparatus to collect the microbiallygenerated biogas; (b) collecting an amount of crude biogas from thebiogas production facility; (c) removing impurities from the crudebiogas to yield a combustible fluid feedstock; (d) introducing a firstamount of the combustible fluid feedstock from step (b) or (c) toapparatus for delivering a combustible fluid feedstock to fuelproduction facility; (e) withdrawing for use at a fuel productionfacility a second amount of combustible fluid feedstock approximatelyequal in energy content to the first amount of combustible fluidfeedstock; (f) processing at the fuel production facility the secondamount of combustible fluid feedstock to produce a third amount ofrenewable hydrogen; and (g) producing a fourth amount of liquidtransportation or heating fuel by a process that comprises combining thethird amount of renewable hydrogen derived from the second amount ofcombustible fluid feedstock with a crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbonand an additional effective amount of hydrogen of sufficient quantity todesulfurize the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon, wherein step (g)is carried out in a reactor under conditions to simultaneouslydesulfurize and hydrogenate the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon;and wherein the amount of the hydrogen that becomes bonded to the crudeoil derived liquid hydrocarbon in step (g) is greater than or equal totwo thirds of the third amount of renewable hydrogen.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of producing atransportation or heating fuel comprising: (a) causing a first amount ofcombustible fluid feedstock to be introduced to apparatus for deliveringcombustible fluid feedstock to a fuel production facility, the firstamount of combustible fluid feedstock being derived from a crude biogasthat was generated by anaerobic digestion of waste organic material andfrom which impurities were removed following collection from a biogasproduction facility; (b) withdrawing for use at a fuel productionfacility, a second amount of combustible fluid feedstock approximatelyequal to the first amount of combustible fluid feedstock; (c) processingat the fuel production facility the second amount of combustible fluidfeedstock to produce a third amount of renewable hydrogen; (d) producinga fourth amount of liquid transportation or heating fuel by a processthat comprises combining the third amount of renewable hydrogen derivedfrom the second amount of combustible fluid feedstock with a crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon and an additional effective amount ofhydrogen of sufficient quantity to desulfurize the crude oil derivedliquid hydrocarbon, wherein step (d) is carried out in a reactor underconditions to simultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate the crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon; and wherein the amount of hydrogen thatbecomes bonded to the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon is greaterthan or equal to two thirds of the third amount of renewable hydrogen.

In another aspect, there is further provided a method of producing acombustible fluid feedstock for use in producing a transportation orheating fuel, the method comprising: (a) subjecting waste organicmaterial to anaerobic digestion by microorganisms in a biogas productionfacility that incorporates apparatus to collect the microbiallygenerated biogas; (b) collecting an amount of crude biogas from thebiogas production facility; (c) removing impurities from the crudebiogas to yield a combustible fluid feedstock; (d) introducing a firstamount of combustible fluid feedstock from step (b) or (c) to apparatusfor delivering a combustible fluid feedstock to fuel productionfacility; and (e) causing a fuel production facility to use combustiblefluid feedstock in a process for producing transportation or heatingfuel, the process comprising: (i) withdrawing for use at a fuelproduction facility a second amount of combustible fluid feedstock fromthe apparatus approximately equal to the first amount of combustiblefluid feedstock; (ii) processing the second amount of combustible fluidfeedstock to produce a third amount of renewable hydrogen; and (iii)producing a fourth amount of liquid transportation or heating fuel by aprocess that comprises combining the third amount of renewable hydrogenderived from the second amount of combustible fluid feedstock with acrude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon and an additional effective amountof hydrogen of sufficient quantity to desulfurize the crude oil derivedliquid hydrocarbon, wherein step (iii) is carried out in a reactor underconditions to simultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate the crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon; and wherein the amount of hydrogen thatbecomes bonded to the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon is greaterthan or equal to two thirds of the third amount of renewable hydrogen.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of producing atransportation or heating fuel comprising: (a) causing a first amount ofcombustible fluid feedstock to be introduced to apparatus for deliveringcombustible fluid feedstock to a fuel production facility, the firstamount of combustible fluid feedstock being derived from a crude biogasthat was generated by anaerobic digestion of waste organic material andfrom which impurities were removed following collection from a biogasproduction facility; (b) withdrawing for use at a fuel productionfacility, a second amount of combustible fluid feedstock approximatelyequal to the first amount of combustible fluid feedstock; (c) processingat the fuel production facility the second amount of combustible fluidfeedstock to produce a third amount of renewable hydrogen; (d) producinga fourth amount of liquid transportation or heating fuel by a processcomprising combining the third amount of renewable hydrogen derived fromthe second amount of combustible fluid feedstock with a crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon in a reactor under conditions tosimultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate the crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon.

In another aspect, there is further provided a method of producing acombustible fluid feedstock for use in producing a transportation orheating fuel, the method comprising: (a) subjecting waste organicmaterial to anaerobic digestion by microorganisms in a biogas productionfacility that incorporates apparatus to collect the microbiallygenerated biogas; (b) collecting an amount of crude biogas from thebiogas production facility; (c) removing impurities from the crudebiogas to yield a combustible fluid feedstock; (d) introducing a firstamount of combustible fluid feedstock from step (b) or (c) to apparatusfor delivering a combustible fluid feedstock to fuel productionfacility; and (e) causing a fuel production facility to use combustiblefluid feedstock in a process for producing transportation or heatingfuel, the process comprising: (i) withdrawing for use at a fuelproduction facility a second amount of combustible fluid feedstock fromthe apparatus approximately equal to the first amount of combustiblefluid feedstock; (ii) processing the second amount of combustible fluidfeedstock to produce a third amount of renewable hydrogen; and (iii)producing a fourth amount of liquid transportation or heating fuel by aprocess that comprises combining the third amount of renewable hydrogenderived from the second amount of combustible fluid feedstock with acrude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon, wherein step (iii) is carried outin a reactor under conditions to simultaneously desulfurize andhydrogenate the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon.

In any of the foregoing aspects of the invention, a renewable fuelcredit may be associated with the combustible fluid feedstock, therenewable hydrogen, the liquid transportation or heating fuel, or acombination thereof. Preferably, a renewable fuel credit is associatedwith a liquid transportation or heating fuel. More preferably, arenewable fuel credit is associated with the liquid transportation fuel.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method thatcomprises generating numerical information to support a renewable fuelcredit associated with a product produced in accordance with the methodof the invention, which product is selected from (i) the combustiblefluid feedstock derived from biogas; (ii) the renewable hydrogen; (iii)the transportation or heating fuel comprising renewable hydrogen; and(iv) the crude biogas.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodof transforming waste organic material to produce a liquidtransportation or heating fuel comprising: (a) subjecting waste organicmaterial to anaerobic digestion by microorganisms in a biogas productionfacility that incorporates apparatus to collect the microbiallygenerated biogas; (b) collecting an amount of crude biogas from thebiogas production facility; (c) removing impurities from the crudebiogas to yield a combustible fluid feedstock; (d) introducing a firstamount of the combustible fluid feedstock from step (b) or (c) toapparatus for delivering a combustible fluid feedstock to fuelproduction facility; (e) generating numerical information relating tothe first amount of combustible fluid feedstock or crude biogascomprising information representing at least 3 parameters selected from:(i) the type of renewable fuel that it is; (ii) year in which thecombustible fluid feedstock was produced; (iii) a registration numberassociated with the producer or importer of the combustible fluidfeedstock; and (iv) a serial number associated with a batch of thecombustible fluid feedstock; and (f) withdrawing for use at a fuelproduction facility a second amount of combustible fluid feedstockapproximately equal to the first amount of combustible fluid feedstock;(g) processing at the fuel production facility the second amount ofcombustible fluid feedstock to produce renewable hydrogen; and (h)producing a third amount of liquid transportation or heating fuel by aprocess that comprises combining renewable hydrogen derived from thesecond amount of combustible fluid feedstock with a desulfurized, crudeoil derived liquid hydrocarbon in a reactor under conditions tohydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method ofproducing a transportation or heating fuel comprising: (a) causing afirst amount of combustible fluid feedstock to be introduced toapparatus for delivering a combustible fluid feedstock to a fuelproduction facility, the first amount of combustible fluid feedstockbeing derived from a crude biogas that was generated by anaerobicdigestion and from which impurities were removed following collectionfrom a biogas production facility; (b) withdrawing for use at a fuelproduction facility, a second amount of combustible fluid feedstockapproximately equal to the first amount of combustible fluid feedstock;(c) processing at the fuel production facility the second amount ofcombustible fluid feedstock to produce renewable hydrogen; (d) producinga third amount of liquid transportation or heating fuel by a processthat comprises combining renewable hydrogen derived from the secondamount of combustible fluid feedstock with a desulfurized, crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon in a reactor under conditions to hydrogenatethe liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen; and (e) receivingand storing numerical information relating to the first amount ofcombustible fluid feedstock or crude biogas comprising informationrepresenting at least 3 parameters selected from: (i) the type ofrenewable fuel that it is; (ii) year in which the combustible fluidfeedstock was produced; (iii) a registration number associated with theproducer or importer of the combustible fluid feedstock; and (iv) serialnumber associated with a batch of the combustible fluid feedstock.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of producing a combustible fluid feedstock for use in producing atransportation or heating fuel, the method comprising: (a) subjectingwaste organic material to anaerobic digestion by microorganisms in abiogas production facility that incorporates apparatus to collect themicrobially generated biogas; (b) collecting an amount of crude biogasfrom the biogas production facility; (c) removing impurities from thecrude biogas to yield a combustible fluid feedstock; (d) generatingnumerical information relating to the first amount of combustible fluidfeedstock or crude biogas comprising information representing at least 3parameters selected from: (i) the type of renewable fuel that it is;(ii) year in which the combustible fluid feedstock was produced; (iii) aregistration number associated with the producer or importer of thecombustible fluid feedstock; and (iv) a serial number associated with abatch of the combustible fluid feedstock; and (e) introducing a firstamount of combustible fluid feedstock from step (b) or (c) to apparatusfor delivering a combustible fluid feedstock to a fuel productionfacility; and (f) causing a fuel production facility to use combustiblefluid feedstock in a process for producing transportation or heatingfuel, the process comprising: (i′) withdrawing for use at a fuelproduction facility a second amount of combustible fluid feedstock fromthe apparatus approximately equal to the first amount of combustiblefluid feedstock; (ii′) processing the second amount of combustible fluidfeedstock to produce renewable hydrogen; and (iii′) combining renewablehydrogen derived from the second amount of combustible fluid feedstockwith a desulfurized, crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon in a reactorunder conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with therenewable hydrogen.

In another aspect, the present invention further provides a method ofproducing a transportation or heating fuel comprising: (a) receivingcombustible fluid feedstock in accordance with an arrangement with aproducer or supplier of combustible fluid feedstock derived from crudebiogas, the arrangement relating to the use of combustible fluidfeedstock in a process for producing liquid transportation or heatingfuel; (b) producing renewable hydrogen from the received combustiblefluid feedstock; (c) producing liquid transportation or heating fuel ina process that comprises combining renewable hydrogen with crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbons under conditions to hydrogenate the liquidhydrocarbons; (d) generating or receiving numerical information relatingto a product selected from (i) combustible fluid feedstock derived frombiogas; (ii) renewable hydrogen; (iii) a transportation or heating fuelcomprising renewable hydrogen; and (iv) crude biogas, the numericalinformation comprising information representing at least 3 parametersselected from: (i′) the type of product that is made by a producer orimporter of the product; (ii′) year in which the product was produced;(iii′) a registration number associated with the producer or importer ofthe product; and (iv′) a serial number associated with a batch of theproduct; and (e) providing the numerical information generated orreceived in step (d) from a producer or purchaser of the product to agovernment regulatory agency.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of producinga combustible fluid feedstock for use in producing a transportation orheating fuel, the method comprising: (a) producing a combustible fluidfeedstock by a process comprising: (i) converting waste organic materialto crude biogas using microorganisms; (ii) collecting an amount of crudebiogas using an apparatus; and (ii) removing impurities from the crudebiogas to yield a combustible fluid feedstock; (b) arranging for a fuelproduction facility to receive combustible fluid feedstock to use in aprocess for making liquid transportation or heating fuel, wherein theprocess comprises combining renewable hydrogen derived from thecombustible fluid feedstock with crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbonsunder conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbons; (c) generatingnumerical information relating to the combustible fluid feedstock orcrude biogas, the information comprising information representing atleast 3 parameters selected from: (i′) the type of renewable fuel thatit is; (ii′) year in which the combustible fluid feedstock was produced;(iii′) a registration number associated with the producer or importer ofthe combustible fluid feedstock; and (iv′) a serial number associatedwith a batch of the combustible fluid feedstock; and (d) providing thenumerical information relating to the combustible fluid feedstock orcrude biogas to a government regulatory agency and to the fuelproduction facility in step (b).

According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod for generating a renewable fuel credit associated with biogasproduced from waste organic material, the method comprising: (a)producing biogas derived combustible fluid feedstock from biogas; (b)arranging for a fuel production facility to buy combustible fluidfeedstock to make renewable hydrogen for use in a process for makingliquid transportation or heating fuel, wherein the process comprisescombining renewable hydrogen with crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbonsto hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbons; (c) generating a RIN associatedwith the biogas; (d) introducing a first amount of the biogas derivedcombustible fluid feedstock to apparatus for delivering a combustiblefluid feedstock to fuel production facility; and (e) transferring a RINassociated with biogas to a purchaser of the biogas.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method oftransforming waste organic material to produce a liquid transportationor heating fuel comprising: (a) subjecting waste organic material toanaerobic digestion by microorganisms in a biogas production facilitythat incorporates apparatus to collect the microbially generated biogas;(b) collecting an amount of crude biogas from the biogas productionfacility; (c) removing impurities from the crude biogas to yield acombustible fluid feedstock; (d) introducing a first amount of thecombustible fluid feedstock from step (b) or (c) to apparatus fordelivering a combustible fluid feedstock to fuel production facility;(e) generating or receiving numerical information relating to a productselected from (i) combustible fluid feedstock derived from crude biogas;(ii) renewable hydrogen; (iii) a transportation or heating fuelcomprising renewable hydrogen; or (iv) crude biogas, the numericalinformation comprising information representing at least 3 parametersselected from: (i′) the type of product that is made by the producer orimporter of the product; (ii′) year in which the product was produced;(iii′) a registration number associated with the producer or importer ofthe product; and (iv′) a serial number associated with a batch of theproduct; (f) withdrawing for use at a fuel production facility a secondamount of combustible fluid feedstock approximately equal to the firstamount of combustible fluid feedstock; (g) processing at the fuelproduction facility the second amount of combustible fluid feedstock toproduce renewable hydrogen; (h) producing a third amount of liquidtransportation or heating fuel by a process that comprises combiningrenewable hydrogen derived from the second amount of combustible fluidfeedstock with a crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon; and (i) providingthe numerical information generated or received in step (e) to agovernment regulatory agency.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided methodof producing a transportation or heating fuel comprising: (a) causing afirst amount of combustible fluid feedstock to be introduced toapparatus capable of delivering a combustible fluid feedstock to a fuelproduction facility, the first amount of combustible fluid feedstockbeing derived from a crude biogas from which impurities were removedfollowing collection from a biogas production facility; (b) generatingor receiving numerical information relating to a product selected from(i) combustible fluid feedstock derived from crude biogas; (ii)renewable hydrogen; (iii) a transportation or heating fuel comprisingrenewable hydrogen; and (iv) crude biogas, the numerical informationcomprising information representing at least 3 parameters selected from:(i′) the type of product that is made by a producer or importer of theproduct; (ii′) year in which the product was produced; (iii′) aregistration number associated with the producer or importer of theproduct; and (iv′) a serial number associated with a batch of theproduct; (c) withdrawing for use at a fuel production facility, a secondamount of combustible fluid feedstock approximately equal to the firstamount of combustible fluid feedstock; (d) processing at the fuelproduction facility the second amount of combustible fluid feedstock toproduce renewable hydrogen; (e) producing a third amount of liquidtransportation or heating fuel by a process that comprises combiningrenewable hydrogen derived from the second amount of combustible fluidfeedstock with a crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon; and (f) providingnumerical information generated or received in step (b) to a governmentregulatory agency.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a methodof producing a combustible fluid feedstock for use in producing apartially renewable transportation or heating fuel, the methodcomprising: (a) producing or receiving combustible fluid feedstockderived from biogas that has been produced from waste organic material;(b) introducing a first amount of the combustible fluid feedstock fromstep (a) to apparatus for delivering a combustible fluid feedstock to afuel production facility; and (c) causing a fuel production facility touse combustible fluid feedstock in a process that producestransportation or heating fuel from a crude oil derived hydrocarbon, theprocess comprising: withdrawing a second amount of combustible fluidfeedstock from the apparatus approximately equal to the first amount ofcombustible fluid feedstock; (d) generating numerical informationrelating to the first amount of combustible fluid feedstock comprisinginformation representing at least 3 parameters selected from: (i) thetype of renewable fuel that it is; (ii) year in which the combustiblefluid feedstock was produced; (iii) a registration number associatedwith the producer or importer of the combustible fluid feedstock; and(iv) a serial number associated with a batch of the combustible fluidfeedstock; and (e) providing the numerical information relating to thefirst amount of combustible fluid to a government regulatory agency anda purchaser of the combustible fluid feedstock.

According to any one of the foregoing aspects of the invention, thetransportation or heating fuel produced by the process of the inventionmay be selected from gasoline, diesel, heating oil and jet fuel.

According to an embodiment of any one of the above aspects of theinvention, the fuel produced by the invention is a transportation fuel.The fuel production facility is preferably a transportation fuelproduction facility.

According to any one of the foregoing aspects of the invention, the fuelproduced by the invention may be heating fuel such as heating oil.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, hydrogen atoms from thecombustible fluid feedstock become incorporated into the finaltransportation fuel or heating fuel. Preferably, the transportation orheating fuel is, or qualifies as, renewable or partially renewable.

According to an embodiment of any one of the above aspects of theinvention, the biogas production facility is a landfill, a wastetreatment facility or a manure digestion facility.

According to those aspects of the invention that comprise combiningrenewable hydrogen with a desulfurized, crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon, the reactor is preferably a hydrogenation reactor. In oneembodiment of the invention, the hydrogenation reactor is ahydrocracker.

In those aspects of the invention in which the crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon is simultaneously desulfurized and hydrogenated, the reactoris preferably one that carries out both hydrotreating and hydrocracking.In those aspects of the invention in which an additional effectiveamount of hydrogen is used to desulfurize, such hydrogen is preferablynon-renewable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is of a preferred embodiment by way of exampleonly and without limitation to the combination of features necessary forcarrying the invention into effect. The headings provided are not meantto be limiting of the various embodiments of the invention. Terms suchas “comprises”, “comprising”, “comprise”, “includes”, “including” and“include” are not meant to be limiting.

Source of Biogas

Any source material containing waste organic material can be used in theprocess of the invention to produce biogas. Waste organic materialincludes, but is not limited to, landfill waste, agricultural wasteincluding manure and crop waste products, sewage sludge, food waste,yard waste, industrial waste, animal waste material, for example,slaughterhouse waste and fish waste, fats, oils and grease fromrestaurants, or a combination thereof. By the term “organic material”,it is meant any non-fossil fuel substrate that can be converted intobiogas, most preferably by anaerobic digestion using microorganisms.

In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the organic materialincludes, but is not limited to biomass, such as (i) animal wastematerial and animal byproducts; (ii) separated yard waste or food waste,including recycled cooking and trap grease; and (iii) landfill waste,including, but not limited to, food and yard waste. The organic materialin the landfill waste, including, but not limited to, food and yardwaste, may or may not be intermixed with non-organic components oflandfill material.

Biogas Production and Collection

According to the present invention, the waste organic material issubjected to anaerobic digestion in a biogas production facility togenerate biogas. “Anaerobic digestion” is the biological breakdown oforganic material by microorganisms under low oxygen conditions, or inthe absence of oxygen, to produce a gas comprising methane, referred toherein as biogas. As used herein, the term encompasses any method formicrobially digesting waste organic matter under anaerobic conditions.The digestion may or may not be contained within an anaerobic digester,as described further below. As known to those skilled in the art,anaerobic digestion generally involves the decomposition of wasteorganic material, including carbohydrates, fats and proteins therein,into simple sugars and glycerol. These compounds are then converted toacids, which are then converted into methane by methanogenic bacteria orother microorganisms.

The biogas production facility is an operation that produces biogaseither as a target product or as a co-product and includes anagricultural, municipal or industrial operation. This includes, withoutlimitation, a landfill, a facility containing anaerobic digesters, awaste treatment facility, such as a sewage treatment facility, and amanure digestion facility, such as a facility located on a farm orprocessing materials collected from farms. Biogas may be providedthrough importation.

The biogas utilized in the present invention is optionally derived fromlandfill waste. Landfill biogas may be produced by organic materialdecomposing under anaerobic conditions in a landfill. The waste iscovered and mechanically compressed by the weight of the material thatis deposited from above. This material prevents oxygen exposure thusallowing anaerobic microbes to thrive. By appropriately engineering acollection system at the landfill site, the resultant biogas iscaptured. Biogas can also be produced from organic material that isseparated from waste that otherwise goes to landfills. According tofurther embodiments of the invention, the biogas production sitecontains an anaerobic digester for digesting the waste.

An anaerobic digester is a tank, or other contained volume, such as acovered lagoon, designed to facilitate the breakdown of organic materialor biomass by microorganisms under anaerobic or low oxygen conditions.The anaerobic digestion may be carried out in one or multiple anaerobicdigesters. An anaerobic digester utilized in accordance with theinvention may be designed and/or operated in a number of configurationsincluding batch or continuous, mesophilic or thermophilic temperatureranges, and low, medium or high rates. The rate refers to the chemicaloxygen demand (COD) feed rate to the unit, which is a rate measurementbased on the organic compounds present in the feed. In practice, thechoice of configuration will depend on a number of factors. These mayinclude consideration of the nature of the organic material or biomassto be treated and/or the level of treatment desired. Other factors thatmay be considered in the configuration choice include operatingparameters such as residence time, temperature, pH and the nutrientssupplied to a digester.

In some embodiments of the invention, the biogas production facility isa centralized facility that receives organic material that istransported to the facility from different sources. The biogasproduction facility can be located at a fuel production facility, whichis described hereinafter.

Crude biogas is collected from the biogas production facility by anapparatus designed for such purpose. Non-limiting examples of apparatusto collect microbially generated biogas that may be used in accordancewith the invention include apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.7,951,296 and 7,972,082 and WO 2010/051622, each of which isincorporated herein by reference.

Crude biogas from landfills may be collected through extraction wells.The crude biogas can also be extracted through horizontal trenches. Thecrude biogas may then be extracted and piped to a main collectionheader. The main collection header can be connected to a leachatecollection system. A blower may be needed to pull the gas from thecollection wells to the collection header and further downstream.

Alternatively, an existing landfill biogas vent can be converted to avertical well. The density of the wells within the landfill generallyvaries, depending on the composition of the landfill waste. As set outabove, the landfill site may contain an anaerobic digester, in whichcase the apparatus collects biogas originating from the anaerobicdigester.

Biogas can be withdrawn from a digester by a pipe or other similarapparatus for removing the biogas from the digester. The pipe or othersimilar apparatus may be placed at the top region of the digester tocollect the biogas, or any other suitable location to withdraw or removethe biogas from the digester.

Optionally, the biogas is stored prior to use, purification ortransport.

Biogas Purification

Apart from the desired methane, the crude biogas will typically containone or more impurities such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, water,oxygen, nitrogen and halogenated compounds. The impurities in the crudebiogas can be removed by any suitable method, or combination of methodsto yield relatively purified combustible fluid feedstock. The crudebiogas can be purified to any degree, including, but not limited to, theextent required to meet pipeline specifications. Although typically ingas form, the combustible fluid feedstock can be a liquid or a gas. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, at least carbon dioxide isremoved from the crude biogas, although other impurities can optionallybe removed as well.

Carbon dioxide removal from the crude biogas may be carried out byscrubbing techniques such as water or polyethylene glycol scrubbing,which involve flowing biogas through a column with a water orpolyethylene glycol solution flowing counter-current to the biogas.Carbon dioxide is removed from the crude biogas by these techniquessince it is more soluble in water or polyethylene glycol than methane.

A further technique for carbon dioxide removal from the crude biogas ispressure swing absorption, which utilizes adsorptive materials, such aszeolites and activated carbon that preferentially adsorb carbon dioxideat high pressure. When the pressure is released, the carbon dioxidedesorbs.

Membrane separation is another technique that can be used to removecarbon dioxide from the crude biogas. Membrane separation may includehigh pressure gas separation or gas-liquid absorption membranes.

According to further embodiments of the invention, removal of hydrogensulfide from the crude biogas is carried out by bacteria, such aschemotrophic thiobacteria that are capable of oxidizing hydrogen sulfideand using carbon dioxide as a carbon source. Bacterial removal ofhydrogen sulfide may be carried out in an anaerobic digester or astorage tank. The addition of oxygen into a digester or storage tankpromotes the growth of indigenous thiobacteria. In further exemplaryembodiments, removal of hydrogen sulfide by bacteria is combined withwater scrubbing. Another method for removing hydrogen sulfide is theaddition of iron chloride to an anaerobic digester. The iron chloridereacts with hydrogen sulfide that is produced to form iron sulfide salt.Other non-limiting examples of techniques that can be utilized to removehydrogen sulfide include the addition of iron oxide to a digester, whichreacts with hydrogen sulfide to produce iron sulfide, pressure swingabsorption, water scrubbing, polyethylene glycol scrubbing and sodiumhydroxide scrubbing.

Halogenated hydrocarbons can be removed by contacting the biogas withactivated carbon. Oxygen and nitrogen impurities can be removed bymembranes or pressure swing adsorption.

Combustible fluid feedstock is a combustible fluid that predominantlycomprises methane. The fluid is typically a gas but may be a liquid. Incertain embodiments of the invention, the combustible fluid feedstockcomprises predominantly methane and may further comprise other volatilecombustible hydrocarbons. Combustible fluid feedstock may be derivedfrom biogas, either crude or purified to any degree.

Transport of Combustible Fluid Feedstock

After generation, the combustible fluid feedstock is introduced to anapparatus for delivering combustible fluid feedstock to a fuelproduction facility. In a preferred embodiment, such apparatus will be apipeline, such as a natural gas pipeline or a biogas dedicated pipeline.Alternatively, the apparatus may be a container for transporting thecombustible fluid feedstock by rail, trucking or shipping, or any othercommercial distribution system. A combustible fluid feedstock may betransported in gaseous or liquid form. Combustible fluid feedstockderived from biogas is introduced into the apparatus described above andtransported to a fuel production facility.

Combustible fluid feedstock is supplied or transported to a fuelproduction facility for use in making liquid transportation fuels. As iswell-understood in the art, however, combustible fluid feedstock mayalso be supplied or transported to fuel production facilities for makingfuels for other uses, such as heating fuels, in conformity with theprocesses described herein. By the term “fuel production facility”, itis meant any processing plant or plants where crude oil or crude oilderived hydrocarbons are processed and refined into more useful productsthat include fuel, liquid transportation fuel, fuel intermediates, fuelcomponents, or any combination thereof. Non-limiting examples include,but are not limited to, gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, fuels made fromnaphtha, fuel oils and liquefied petroleum gas. By the term“transportation fuel production facility”, it is meant any processingplant or plants where crude oil or crude oil derived hydrocarbons areprocessed and refined into liquid transportation fuel, intermediates orcomponents thereof, or any combination of the foregoing. The crude oilmay be derived from oil reservoirs, such as hydrocarbons found withinrock formations, oil sands or oil shale.

Combustible fluid feedstock is supplied or transported to the fuelproduction facility. In some embodiments of the invention, the apparatusfor transport is a commercial distribution system, such as a natural gaspipeline, in which case biogas derived combustible fluid feedstock maybecome intermixed with methane that originates from fossil fuel sources(natural gas). In such embodiments of the invention, the combustiblefluid feedstock that is withdrawn to make renewable hydrogen andtransportation or heating fuel therefrom may comprise methane frombiogas, methane from natural gas or mixtures thereof.

The apparatus for delivering combustible fluid feedstock may be integralor connected with the apparatus to collect the biogas in the biogasproduction facility. Alternatively, the apparatus for deliveringcombustible fluid feedstock and the apparatus to collect the biogas areseparate, unconnected units. The apparatus for delivering a combustiblefluid feedstock to a fuel production facility delivers, or is capable ofdelivering, combustible fluid feedstock to one or more fuel productionfacilities. It should also be appreciated that the biogas productionfacility could be located on-site or in close proximity to the fuelproduction facility. Combustible fluid feedstock is withdrawn fromapparatus at a fuel production facility and then processed to producerenewable hydrogen.

Renewable Hydrogen Production from Biogas

Renewable hydrogen is hydrogen made using renewably sourced combustiblefluid feedstock. This includes hydrogen made using any of the following,or any combination of the following: (a) combustible fluid feedstockpurified or derived directly from biogas; and (b) combustible fluidfeedstock sourced by the steps of (i) causing (as described herein) afirst amount of combustible fluid feedstock derived from crude biogas tobe introduced into apparatus for delivering combustible fluid feedstockto processing facilities; and (ii) withdrawing at the destination asecond amount of combustible fluid feedstock approximately equal inenergy content to the first amount of combustible fluid feedstock.Renewable hydrogen includes hydrogen sourced from (i) biogas derivedfrom anaerobic digestion; (ii) methane, including natural gas or fossilfuel derived methane which qualifies under applicable laws andregulations to be treated as renewably derived biogas; or (iii) anycombination of (i) or (ii).

Renewable hydrogen production from combustible fluid feedstock may becarried out by any suitable means known to those of skill in the art.Technologies that can be utilized in accordance with the presentinvention for producing renewable hydrogen from methane include, but arenot limited to, autothermal reforming (“ATR”) and steam methanereforming (“SMR”) and additionally water gas shift reactions or otherlike technologies as known to those skilled in the art. Both ATR and SMRmethods operate by exposing the combustible fluid feedstock or methanetherein to a catalyst at high temperature and pressure to producesyngas, which is renewable hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The carbonmonoxide generated by either method may be generally further reactedwith water in a water gas shift reaction to form carbon dioxide andrenewable hydrogen. SMR converts the methane into renewable hydrogen andcarbon monoxide without oxygen. The carbon monoxide reacts further toproduce more renewable hydrogen in the water gas shift reaction. Therelevant equations are as follows:

CH₄+H₂O→CO+3H₂

CO+H₂O→CO₂+H₂

Without being limiting, conventional steam reforming plants may operateat pressures between 200 and 600 psi with outlet temperatures in therange of 815 to 925° C.

ATR uses oxygen and carbon dioxide or steam in a reaction with methaneto form syngas and water. The reaction may take place in a singlechamber where the methane is partially oxidized. The reaction isexothermic due to the oxidation. The reactions can be described in thefollowing equations, using CO₂:

2CH₄+O₂+CO₂→3H₂+3CO+H₂O

and using steam:

4CH₄+O₂+2H₂O→10H₂+4CO.

A significant difference between SMR and ATR is that SMR uses no oxygen.

SMR and ATR are carried out in any suitable device or devices forproducing renewable hydrogen from a combustible fluid feedstock andinclude devices and operations that are known or used in the art forsuch purposes. The steam reforming operation may be situated in the fuelproduction facility or the operation may be a separate plant locatedoff-site.

It is preferred that the renewable hydrogen produced by SMR or ATR bepurified to remove one or more non-hydrogen components. The renewablehydrogen may be purified by methods known to those skilled in the art,such as liquid absorption system for carbon dioxide removal or apressure swing absorption operation to produce a purified renewablehydrogen product.

Production of Fuel

After production, the renewable hydrogen is used in a process to producea liquid transportation or heating fuel. The renewable hydrogen iscombined with a crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon so that it becomesincorporated into the hydrocarbon and ultimately is part of the liquidtransportation or heating fuel that is the product of the fuelproduction facility. By the term “crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon”,it is meant any carbon-containing material derived from crude oil thatis liquid at standard ambient temperature and pressure. Crude oilincludes liquid, gaseous and solid carbon-containing material fromgeologic formations, including oil reservoirs, such as hydrocarbonsfound within rock formations, oil sands or oil shale. Advantageously,since the hydrogen according to the present invention that is added tothe crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon is renewable, the resultanttransportation or heating fuel is considered a fuel having renewablecontent, or reduced fossil fuel content.

(i) Addition of Renewable Hydrogen

The incorporation of renewable hydrogen into the crude oil derivedliquid hydrocarbon according to the present invention encompasses theaddition, incorporation or bonding of renewable hydrogen to crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon. Such reactions include hydrogenation, whichincludes, without limitation, any reaction in which renewable hydrogenis added to a crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon through a chemicalbond or linkage to a carbon atom. The renewable hydrogen may becomebonded to a carbon backbone, a side chain, or a combination thereof, ofa linear or ring compound of a crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon.Hydrogenation reactions may be carried out in the presence of acatalyst.

The addition or incorporation of renewable hydrogen into the crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon can be achieved by the addition of suchhydrogen to an unsaturated or a saturated hydrocarbon. This includesaddition of renewable hydrogen to unsaturated groups, such as alkenes oraromatic groups, on the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon.Furthermore, the addition or incorporation of hydrogen may beaccompanied by the cleavage of a hydrocarbon molecule. This may includea reaction that involves the addition of a hydrogen atom to each of themolecular fragments that result from the cleavage. Without beinglimiting, such reactions may include ring opening reactions and/ordealkylation reactions. Other reactions that may involve the addition ofhydrogen include reactions carried out prior to isomerization andcyclization.

The hydrogenation reactions may be conducted in a “hydrogenationreactor”. As used herein, the term “hydrogenation reactor” includes anyreactor in which hydrogen is added to a crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon. The hydrogenation reactor may be a hydrocracking reactor ora “hydrocracker” or any other reactor in which hydrogen becomes bondedto a crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon, as described hereinafter.

Without being limiting, hydrogenation reactions may involve saturationof aromatics, olefins (alkenes), or a combination thereof. Non-limitingexamples of hydrogenation reactions are provided below. Such reactionsare known to those of skill in the art and are reproduced from Robinsonet al., Practical Advances in Petroleum Processing, Vol. 1, Ed. by ChangS. Hsu and Paul R. Robinson, Springer, N.Y., Chapter 7, “Hydrotreatingand Hydrocraking: Fundamentals” (2006) 177-218.

The following reactions, which are not meant to be limiting in anymanner, exemplify how reactions that cleave hydrocarbons incorporatehydrogen atoms into a hydrocarbon molecule. The first reaction is a ringopening reaction and the second is a ring dealkylation.

(ii) Desulfurization of Liquid Hydrocarbon

In the present invention, the renewable hydrogen produced from thecombustible fluid feedstock can be combined with a crude oil derivedliquid hydrocarbon that is desulfurized. By the term “desulfurized,crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon”, it is meant that a large part orall of the sulfur is removed from a crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon. In one example of the invention, at least 75%, or at least85 or 90% of the sulfur is removed from the crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon.

The sulfur may be removed in a reactor that desulfurizes a crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon, such as a hydrotreater. The hydrotreater canalso remove nitrogen and oxygen.

The desulfurized, crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon may then be fedto a reactor that operates under conditions to hydrogenate the crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen. The reactor canbe a hydrocracker, as described below. Sulfur and nitrogen compoundsand/or metals are removed before entering the hydrocracking reactor asthese components can act as poisons to the hydrocracking catalyst.

(iii) Hydrocracking

As set out above, hydrogenation reactions can be carried out in ahydrocracker. Hydrocracking typically employs a catalyst and hydrogen.Hydrocracking reactions involve the conversion of relativelyhigh-boiling, high molecular weight hydrocarbons into lower-boiling,lower molecular weight hydrocarbons by the breaking of carbon-to-carbonbonds. The breaking of carbon-to-carbon bonds also referred to herein as“cracking” or “hydrocracking”, may be carried out in a hydrogenationreactor. In this invention, the cracking in the presence of renewablehydrogen can be carried out in a hydrocracker.

In one embodiment of the present invention, it is preferred that thereactor, to which the renewable hydrogen is introduced, does not causeany significant conversion of organic sulfur into hydrogen sulfide, aswould occur in a desulfurization reactor, such as a hydrotreater. Inreactors that are operated so as to remove sulfur in such a manner, suchas a hydrotreater, a significant part of the renewable hydrogenintroduced to the reactor leaves the reactor as H₂S, rather than beingincorporated into the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon byhydrogenation. Thus, according to some embodiments of the invention, therenewable hydrogen is not added to a desulfurization reactor orhydrotreater that primarily or principally carries out desulfurizationso as to remove sulfur in the form of H₂S.

Hydrocracking converts crude oil derived hydrocarbon to products havinglower molecular weight than that of the feed. This results in theproducts having a lower boiling point relative to the feed. According toa further embodiment of the invention, the “conversion level” in thereactor, such as a hydrogenating or hydrocracking reactor, is between 20and 100 wt %. By the term “conversion level”, it is meant the differencein amount of unconverted crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon betweenfeed and product divided by the amount of unconverted crude oil derivedliquid hydrocarbon in the feed. Unconverted crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon is material that boils above a specified temperature.Without being limiting, for vacuum gas oil, a typical specifiedtemperature is 650° F. (343° C.). In typical hydrotreating units, whichare conducted to remove sulfur, nitrogen and other impurities from thecrude oil derived hydrocarbon, the conversion may be less than 20 wt %,more typically less than 15 wt %.

Typically, two catalytic sites catalyze respective cracking andhydrogenation reactions in the hydrocracker. An acid function maycatalyze the cracking, while a metal function may catalyzehydrogenation. In certain embodiments, the acidic support consists ofamorphous oxides or a mixture of crystalline zeolite and amorphousoxides. The metals providing the hydrogenation function can be noblemetals, non-noble metal sulfides from group VIA and group VIIIA.According to some embodiments, the hydrocracker uses a catalyst that isactive only for cracking and hydrogenating.

The invention is not limited by the particular feedstock fed to thehydrocracker, although the feed may be gas oil. In some embodiments ofthe invention, feedstock fed to the hydrocracking operation is one thatis difficult to process by either catalytic cracking or reforming. Infurther embodiments of the invention, such feedstock is characterized bya high polycyclic aromatic content.

Without being limiting, the hydrocracker may receive aromatic cycle oilsand coker distillates as feedstock. These feeds may originate fromatmospheric and/or vacuum distillation units, delayed cokers, fluidcokers, visbreakers or fluid catalytic cracking units. Middledistillates from a hydrocracker usually meet or exceed finished productspecifications, but the heavy naphtha from a hydrocracker may be sent toa catalytic reformer for octane improvement.

The hydrocracking process configuration may include one or multiplestages. According to some embodiments, a single stage hydrocracker isutilized. For single stage hydrocrackers, the oil fed to thehydrocracker may be previously desulfurized as described above. Twostage hydrocracking operations may employ separate respective reactorsfor desulfurization and cracking. According to this embodiment, therenewable hydrogen may be introduced to the reactor in which thecracking reaction is conducted, after desulfurization. In any of theforegoing process configurations, uncracked residual hydrocarbon fromthe bottom of the reactor may or may not be recycled back to a reactor.Circulation of hydrogen with the feedstock may be utilized in order toreduce catalyst fouling.

(iv) Combined or Simultaneous Desulfurization and Hydrogenation

In one embodiment, a liquid transportation or heating fuel is producedby a process that comprises combining renewable hydrogen with a crudeoil derived liquid hydrocarbon and an additional effective amount ofhydrogen of sufficient quantity to desulfurize the crude oil derivedliquid hydrocarbon. The additional effective amount of hydrogen may bederived from fossil fuel sources. The amount of hydrogen used todesulfurize the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon may be determinedby those of ordinary skill in the art using known techniques.

The foregoing process is carried out in a reactor under conditions tosimultaneously desulfurize and hydrogenate the crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon. The desulfurization and hydrogenation may be conducted in areactor that carries out both respective functions. According to someembodiments, as would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, thereactor may use an amorphous catalyst that carries out bothhydrotreating and hydrocracking. The desulfurization catalyst, orhydrotreating catalyst, is designed to convert organic sulfur in crudeoil derived hydrocarbons to H2S, while the hydrogenation catalyst, orhydrocracking catalyst, provides for cracking and hydrogenation of thehydrocarbons. Additionally, the hydrotreating may convert organicnitrogen to ammonia. The conditions used in the reactor are conventionaland can be readily selected by those of ordinary skill in the art.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the hydrogen thatbecomes bonded to the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon is greaterthan or equal to two thirds of the renewable hydrogen that is eithercontracted for or otherwise introduced to the fuel production facilityor reactor. According to further embodiments of the invention, thehydrogen that becomes bonded to the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbonis greater than or equal to ¾ or ⅞ of the renewable hydrogen that iseither contracted for or otherwise introduced to the fuel productionfacility or reactor.

Additional Refining Steps

Other process steps besides those described above can be carried out inthe fuel production facility to produce the transportation or heatingfuel. Examples of such process steps include isomerization and catalyticreforming. Prior to isomerization, the crude oil derived hydrocarbon maybe sent to a hydrogenation reactor, which may saturate olefins toparaffins and saturate benzene. Both isomerization and catalyticreforming increase the octane rating of the liquid hydrocarbon, which isa measure of the likelihood that a gasoline or liquid petroleum fuelwill self-ignite during compression. The higher the number, the lessprone the engine is to uncontrolled ignition, including pre-ignition.Those of ordinary skill herein understand that different technologyconfigurations may be used and the embodiments and examples discussedherein are non-limiting, and accordingly that other known orlater-developed technologies for processing and producing fuels,including various different configurations, may be utilized inconformity with the present invention.

Fuel Product

As mentioned previously, if portions of the hydrogen contained in fuelproduced from a fuel production facility are derived from renewablehydrogen as set forth above, the fuel product produced by the fuelproduction facility may be considered a renewable fuel or a fuel havingrenewable content.

The fuel produced in accordance with the invention may be referred to asa petroleum-based fuel. Fuel produced by a fuel production facility istypically liquid at ambient temperature and pressure and includestransportation fuel for use in motor vehicles, motor vehicle engines,non-road vehicles or non-road engines, or jet fuel and heating oil.

Liquid transportation or heating fuel products or portions thereofresulting from the present invention may be considered renewable fuel,and qualify for renewable fuel credits as described herein. In addition,the process itself may generate low carbon fuel credits. In someembodiments of this invention, the combustible fluid feedstock used tomake renewable hydrogen is derived or purified directly from crudebiogas. In such embodiments the renewable hydrogen derived from suchcombustible fluid feedstock is incorporated into the liquidtransportation or heating fuel product to make a renewable or partiallyrenewable fuel. In some of these embodiments, the apparatus used totransport the combustible fluid feedstock is a shipping container orpipeline that does not carry natural gas.

However, in additional embodiments of the invention where a natural gaspipeline or other like commercial distribution system is utilized as theapparatus to transport combustible fluid feedstock to the fuelproduction facility, then the combustible fluid feedstock, uponwithdrawal from the apparatus for use at the fuel production facility,may comprise methane derived from biogas, methane derived from naturalgas or mixtures of methane derived from both natural gas and biogas. Insuch embodiments, this withdrawn combustible fluid feedstock can be usedto produce renewable hydrogen and make a liquid transportation orheating fuel that has renewable content or is otherwise considered arenewable or partially renewable fuel.

Government authorities have recognized that it does not make anydifference, in terms of the beneficial environmental attributesassociated with the use of biogas, whether the displacement of fossilfuel occurs in a fungible natural gas pipeline, or in a specific fuelproduction facility that draws combustible fluid feedstock from thatpipeline. In fact, similar considerations are widely accepted withrespect to electricity generated by renewable biomass that is placedinto a commercial electricity grid. A party buying the renewable poweris credited with doing so in state renewable portfolio programs eventhough the power from these sources is placed in the fungible grid andthe electrons produced by a renewable source may never actually be usedby the party purchasing it. In essence these programs assume that therenewable power purchased and introduced into the grid is in fact usedby the purchaser, even though all parties acknowledge that use of theactual renewable-derived electrons cannot be verified once placed in thefungible grid. Governments have also recognized that that this approachwill ultimately further the GHG reduction and energy security goals setout in various pieces of legislation including the EISA and the RFS,including RFS2.

As a result, under certain current regulations, producers may treat thecombustible fluid feedstock withdrawn from a pipeline as renewablyderived, effectively taking into account the displacement of fossilderived natural gas in the pipeline by renewably derived combustiblefluid feedstock, provided that they demonstrate that a verifiablecontractual pathway exists and that such pathway ensures that (1) aspecific volume of combustible fluid feedstock derived directly frombiogas was placed into a commercial pipeline that ultimately serves thefuel production facility; (2) that the volume of combustible fluidfeedstock withdrawn into this facility from that pipeline matches thevolume of combustible fluid feedstock derived directly from biogasplaced into the pipeline system; and (3) that the quantity ofcombustible fluid feedstock for which renewable fuel credits weregenerated was sold for use as transportation or heating fuel and for noother purpose. Where such conditions are satisfied, liquidtransportation or heating fuel made using combustible fluid feedstockwithdrawn from a natural gas pipeline may qualify for renewable fuelcredits. It should be understood that the requirements for thecombustible fluid feedstock to qualify as renewable or renewably derivedmay change according to government standards and that the invention isnot limited to the current rules as would be known by those of skill inthe art.

In accordance with the invention, a first amount of combustible fluidfeedstock is introduced to apparatus for delivering combustible fluidfeedstock to a fuel production facility and a second amount is withdrawnfor use at the fuel production facility. The first amount of combustiblefluid feedstock may also be referred to as the introduced amount and thesecond amount of combustible fluid feedstock that is withdrawn from theapparatus may also be referred to as the withdrawn amount. According toone delivery mode of the invention where a natural gas pipeline is usedor other like commercial distribution system, the withdrawn amount ofcombustible fluid feedstock is “approximately equal” to the first amountof combustible fluid feedstock. By “approximately equal”, it is meantthat the energy content or heat value of the second amount ofcombustible fluid feedstock does not substantially vary from the energyor heat value of the introduced amount of combustible fluid feedstock,such as by more than about 10%, more preferably by more than about 5%.The energy content or heat value may be measured using British thermalunits (BTU) or joules for a given volume of the combustible fluidfeedstock.

It will be understood that the introduced amounts and the withdrawnamounts of combustible fluid feedstock may not be all the combustiblefluid feedstock that is introduced into or withdrawn from the apparatusfor delivering combustible fluid feedstock. For example, a biogasproduction facility may introduce more combustible fluid feedstock intoa pipeline than will ultimately be processed in accordance with theinvention, and similarly, a fuel production facility may withdraw morecombustible fluid feedstock from a pipeline than will ultimately be usedin accordance with the invention. It will also be understood thatquantities of combustible fluid feedstock may be introduced into andwithdrawn from the apparatus for delivering combustible fluid feedstockin batch sizes or at rates that are not identical at the introductionand withdrawal points.

Combustible fluid feedstock that has been delivered to an apparatus fordelivering combustible fluid feedstock to a fuel production facility,and is withdrawn for use, may comprise methane derived from natural gasor mixtures of natural gas and biogas.

According to some embodiments of the invention, one or more parties cancause a fuel production facility to use combustible fluid feedstock in aprocess for producing renewable hydrogen (further described herein) tomake transportation or heating fuel. In other embodiments of theinvention, one or more parties can cause combustible fluid feedstock,derived from crude biogas, to be introduced to an apparatus fordelivering combustible fluid feedstock to a fuel production facility,and withdrawal of combustible fluid feedstock for use in producingrenewable hydrogen to make transportation or heating fuel.

The term “cause”, as used herein means to arrange or bring about, eitherdirectly or indirectly, including through commercial arrangements suchas a written agreement, verbal agreement or contract.

In some embodiments of the invention, a party causes a fuel productionfacility to (a) withdraw combustible fluid feedstock from an apparatusfor delivering combustible fluid feedstock; and (b) process thecombustible fluid feedstock to produce renewable hydrogen for use inmaking transportation or heating fuel, preferably transportation orheating fuel with renewable content. In such embodiments the party istypically a biogas producer or one or more third parties that supply ordeliver the combustible fluid feedstock to the fuel production facilityor both. The biogas producer, including an importer or intermediateparty, that supplies or delivers the combustible fluid feedstock to thefuel production facility, preferably enters into a contract or agreementwith a fuel production facility to sell combustible fluid feedstockderived from crude biogas, or to introduce combustible fluid feedstockderived from biogas into an apparatus for delivering same, for use in aprocess for producing transportation or heating fuel. Such contract maymeet the standards of Government authorities for the generation ofrenewable fuel credits. Combustible fluid feedstock is then used orprocessed to make renewable hydrogen which is then used to maketransportation or heating fuel. In some embodiments of the invention,renewable hydrogen is combined with a desulfurized, crude oil derivedliquid hydrocarbon in a reactor under conditions to hydrogenate theliquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen. In other embodiments ofthe invention, the renewable hydrogen is combined with a crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon and an additional effective amount ofhydrogen of sufficient quantity to desulfurize the crude oil derivedliquid hydrocarbon in a reactor in which desulfurization andhydrogenation of the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon occurs in thesame reactor, and preferably simultaneously.

According to further embodiments of the invention, a party causescombustible fluid feedstock that has been derived from crude biogas tobe introduced to an apparatus for delivering combustible fluid feedstockto a fuel production facility. In such embodiment, the party may be afuel production facility or an intermediate party. The fuel productionfacility or the intermediate party preferably enters into a contract oragreement with a biogas producer or supplier to purchase combustiblefluid feedstock derived from crude biogas for use in a process forproducing transportation or heating fuel. Such contract may meet thestandards of Government authorities for the generation of renewable fuelcredits. Combustible fluid feedstock is then used or processed to makerenewable hydrogen which is then used to make transportation or heatingfuel. In some embodiments of the invention, renewable hydrogen iscombined with a desulfurized, crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon in areactor under conditions to hydrogenate the liquid hydrocarbon with therenewable hydrogen. In other embodiments of the invention, the renewablehydrogen is combined with a crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon and anadditional effective amount of hydrogen of sufficient quantity todesulfurize the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon in a reactor inwhich desulfurization and hydrogenation of the crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon occurs in the same reactor, and preferably simultaneously.

The foregoing commercial arrangement or agreements may include one ormore conditions, including the following conditions: (i) the fuelproduction facility or other party arranges to procure an amount oramounts of combustible fluid feedstock, such as a volume amount or aheat or energy content; (ii) the combustible fluid feedstock is only tobe procured by the party specified in the commercial arrangement oragreement; (iii) the amount of combustible fluid feedstock, such as avolume amount or a heat or energy content, that is withdrawn from anapparatus for delivering a combustible fluid feedstock, such as acommercial distribution system, is withdrawn in a manner and at a timeconsistent with the transport of the combustible fluid feedstock betweeninjection and withdrawal points; (iv) the amount of combustible fluidfeedstock introduced and withdrawn from an apparatus for delivering acombustible fluid feedstock is measured, such as by metering; (v) anapparatus for delivering a combustible fluid feedstock serves the fuelproduction facility; (vi) the specified quantity of combustible fluidfeedstock introduced and the quantity withdrawn is only used fortransportation or heating purposes; and any combination of conditions(i)-(vi).

Meeting Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Targets

The invention advantageously provides a methodology for meetingrenewable fuel targets or mandates established by governments, includinglegislation and regulations for transportation or heating fuel sold orintroduced into commerce in the United States. Examples of suchlegislation include the EISA and California AB 32—The Global WarmingSolutions Act, which respectively established an RFS and a Low CarbonFuel Standard (LCFS).

The present invention may allow for the generation of a “credit” or“renewable fuel credit”, which means any rights, credits, revenues,offsets, greenhouse gas rights, rights to any greenhouse gas emissionreductions, carbon-related credits or equivalent arising from emissionreduction trading or any quantifiable benefits (including recognition,award or allocation of credits, allowances, permits or other tangiblerights), whether created from or through a governmental authority or aprivate contract. According to an embodiment of the invention, therenewable fuel credit is a certificate, record, serial number orguarantee, in any form, including electronic, which evidences productionof a quantity of fuel meeting certain lifecycle GHG emission reductionsrelative to a baseline set by a government authority. Preferably, thebaseline is a gasoline baseline. Non-limiting examples of creditsinclude RINs and LCFS credits.

The foregoing process for producing a transportation or heating fuel mayqualify for the generation of RINs under the EISA legislation, and LCFScredits under AB 32 as a result of the renewable nature and favorableGHG profile of the input biogas. A RIN is a certificate which acts as atradable currency for managing compliance under the RFS, and an LCFScredit is a certificate which acts as a tradable currency for managingcompliance under California's LCFS. A RIN has numerical informationassociated with the production of a qualifying renewable fuel inaccordance with regulations administered by the EPA for the purpose ofmanaging the production, distribution and use of renewable fuels fortransportation or other purposes. As described previously, theutilization of renewable feedstocks to produce transportation or heatingfuel has been promoted by various governments, including the UnitedStates government through the EISA legislation. One of the goals of theact is to increase the production and use of clean renewable fuels. Inorder to achieve this objective, EISA mandates the use of aggregatevolumes of different categories of renewable biofuels within the totalpool of transportation or heating fuels sold or introduced into commercein the United States.

The mandated annual targets of renewable content in transportation orheating fuel are implemented through an RFS program that uses RINs totrack and manage the production, distribution and use of renewable fuelsfor transportation or heating purposes. Prorated mandated volumerequirements are determined for each “obligated party”, such asindividual gasoline and diesel producers and/or importers, based ontheir annual production and/or imports. Each year, obligated parties arerequired to meet their prorated share of the RFS mandates byaccumulating trading certificates, such as RINs, either through blendingdesignated quantities of different categories of biofuels, or bypurchasing from others the RINs of the required biofuel categories. Inthe U.S., the EPA is responsible for developing regulations for RINs, asrequired by section 211(o) of the Clean Air Act, as amended by EISA.

The EPA issued regulations in 2007 referred to as “RFS1”. In asubsequent rulemaking on March 2010, EPA made a number of changes to theprogram, known as “RFS2”. The process disclosed above may advantageouslyproduce a renewable transportation or heating fuel that would beeligible for RINs, such as under RFS2.

Renewable fuel producers may generate RINs for fuels from feedstocksmeeting the definition of renewable biomass. A fuel is considered arenewable fuel if it meets the following requirements: (i) It is a fuelthat is produced from renewable biomass. (ii) The fuel is used toreplace or reduce the quantity of fossil fuel present in atransportation fuel, heating oil or jet fuel. (iii) The fuel haslifecycle GHG emissions that are at least 20 percent less than baselinelifecycle GHG emissions. (See 40 C.F.R. § 80.1401(1)).

The process of the present invention is believed to meet each of theforegoing legislative requirements. Biogas is sourced from waste organicmatter, including landfill biogas that is formed from the biogenicportion of landfill material. Thus, the transportation or heating fuelis considered to be produced from a renewable biomass. Moreover, asdescribed above, the renewable hydrogen is combined with a crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon so that it becomes incorporated into a liquidtransportation or heating fuel that is the product of the fuelproduction facility. Accordingly, the fuel is used to replace or reducethe quantity of fossil fuel present in a transportation or heating fuel.With respect to the requirement that the fuel has lifecycle GHGemissions that are at least 20 percent less than baseline lifecycle GHGemissions, it may be found that biogas, including that derived fromlandfills, meets this threshold.

Accordingly, the transportation or heating fuel produced by the processof the present invention or intermediates produced thereunder may beeligible for generation of RINs. According to some embodiments of theinvention, the RINs can be generated by the producer of the biogas andtransferred to a purchaser of the combustible fluid feedstock who makesrenewable hydrogen and subsequently a transportation or heating fuelcomprising renewable hydrogen. According to other embodiments of theinvention, RINs can be generated by a producer of the renewable hydrogenor the transportation or heating fuel comprising the renewable hydrogen.Advantageously, acquisition of RINs by purchase or generation allows anobligated party to certify compliance with mandated renewable fuelvolumes, hold the RIN for future compliance or trade it, as set outbelow.

Furthermore, the process of the present invention is believed to meetthe requirements for qualification to generate advanced biofuel RINs. Anadvanced biofuel is a category of renewable fuel. A fuel is consideredan advanced biofuel if it is a renewable fuel other than ethanol fromcorn starch, and if it has lifecycle GHG emissions that are less than50% less than the baseline lifecycle GHG emissions or lifecycle GHGemissions for gasoline. Under the current regulations, the fuelproduction pathway for biogas has been pre-qualified as meeting therequirements of advanced biofuel (see 40 C.F.R. Table 1 to § 80.1426).In addition, it may be found that the lifecycle GHG emissions meet the50% reduction threshold.

It should be understood that the regulations under EISA, including RINrequirements and the criteria for categorization of a fuel under aparticular fuel category, such as life cycle GHG emission thresholds,are described herein in accordance with current regulations and that theinvention is not limited to current rules and will provide benefits inrelation to subsequent rule changes thereof.

Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs)

The present invention also provides a method comprising generatingnumerical information to support a renewable fuel credit associated witha product produced in accordance with the method of the invention, whichproduct is selected from (i) the combustible fluid feedstock derivedfrom biogas; (ii) the renewable hydrogen; (iii) the transportation orheating fuel comprising renewable hydrogen; and (iv) the crude biogas.

A RIN contains digital or numerical information about a renewable fuel.A RIN is assigned to a batch of fuel for the purpose of tracking itsproduction and use, and provides for the use of trading activities tomeet environmental obligations as provided by the United States EPA'sRFS implemented according to EISA. A RIN is generated upon production orimportation of a renewable fuel. RINs are transferred with the renewablefuel through the distribution system until they are separated from thefuel by parties who are entitled to make such separation (generallyrefiners, importers, or parties that blend renewable fuels into finishedfuels). Separation of a RIN from a volume of renewable fuel meanstermination of the assignment of the RIN to a volume of renewable fuel,as set out below. According to current regulations, RINs containparameters or codes that represent numerical information about the fuelor product. The numerical information that is generated may relate tothe combustible fuel feedstock, crude biogas or to the transportation orheating fuel or fuel intermediate produced by the process of theinvention. According to the present invention, a party may generate RINscomprising numerical information relating to an amount of fuel or fuelproduct representing at least three parameters selected from (i) thetype of renewable fuel that the product is; (ii) the year in which thefuel was produced or the year the numerical information was produced;(iii) registration number associated with the producer or importer ofthe renewable fuel or product; and (iv) serial number associated with abatch of the renewable fuel or product. Such numerical informationrelates or is associated with a product, or fuel product, selected from(a) combustible fluid feedstock derived from crude biogas, (b) crudebiogas, (c) renewable hydrogen, (c) transportation or heating fuelcomprising renewable hydrogen, or (d) transportation or heating fuelintermediates comprising renewable hydrogen.

The numerical information may also include one or more of the followingparameters selected from: (i′) a number identifying that the numericalinformation is assigned to a volume of fuel or separated; (ii′) aregistration number associated with the facility at which the fuel wasproduced or imported; (iii′) a number representing a value related to anequivalence value of the fuel; (iv′) a number representing afirst-volume numerical information associated with a batch of renewablefuel; and (v′) a number representing a last-volume numerical informationassociated with a batch of renewable fuel.

According to further embodiments of the invention, the numericalinformation may include codes representing information about the fuel.Such codes may include a K-code, Y-code, C-code, F-code, B-code, R-code,D-code, S-code and an E-code, wherein, under current regulations:

-   -   K is a code identifying that the RIN is assigned to a volume of        fuel or separated.    -   K has a value of 2 when the RIN has been separated from a volume        of renewable fuel.    -   Y-code or YYYY: year in which the fuel was produced.    -   C-code or CCCC: registration number associated with the producer        or importer of the renewable fuel.    -   F-code or FFFFF: a registration number associated with the        facility at which the fuel was produced or imported.    -   B-code or BBBBB: serial number associated with a batch of the        renewable fuel.    -   R-code or RR: a two digit number representing the relative        energy density of the renewable fuel, where, under current        regulations, this is the equivalence value, which is the ratio        of the energy density of the renewable fuel to the energy        density of ethanol multiplied by 10.    -   D-code or D: a number identifying the type of renewable fuel.    -   S-code or SSSSSSSS: a number representing the first volume-RIN        associated with a batch of renewable fuel.    -   E-code or EEEEEEEE: a number representing the last volume-RIN        associated with a batch of renewable fuel.

The numerical information contained in the RIN may contain at least 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 of the above-mentioned numerical codes. The codes maycontain a predetermined number of characters as required by prevailingregulations. Under current regulations, a RIN contains much of theforegoing information and other information in the form of data elementsthat are introduced into a web-based system administered by the EPAknown as the EPA Moderated Transaction System, or “EMTS”. Up to Jul. 1,2010, the numerical information had the format of a 38 character numericcode of the format KYYYYCCCCFFFFFBBBBBRRDSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEE It should beappreciated that the numerical information contained in the RIN may varydepending upon prevailing regulations. That is, as would be understoodby those of skill in the art, the information required to generate a RINmay be updated over time by regulatory bodies.

The numerical information described herein or portion thereof isprovided to a government regulatory agency, including the EPA, inconnection with generating a RIN. In some embodiments of the invention,the numerical information is also provided to a fuel production facilityor to a purchaser of biogas derived combustible fluid feedstock. Thenumerical information described herein or portions thereof may be storedelectronically in computer readable format.

Generation of RINs

A RIN may be generated by parties including renewable fuel producers,importers, biogas producers, generators of renewable hydrogen and fuelproduction facilities. According to current regulations, RINs may begenerated if the fuel is designated or intended for use astransportation fuel, heating fuel or jet fuel. (See 40 C.F.R. §80.1426(c)(1)). The process for the generation and assignment of RINs byproducers and importers is set out in 40 C.F.R. § 80.1426, which statesin part that producers and importers of renewable fuel must generateRINs to represent that (i) the fuel qualifies for a D-code, or EPA hasapproved a petition for use of a D-code, and (ii) demonstrate that thefuel is produced from renewable biomass.

As used herein, a producer or importer that generates RINs may include aproducer or importer of combustible fluid feedstock, which is intendedfor use in a fuel production facility to make a transportation orheating fuel. In some embodiments of the invention, the producer orimporter of biogas derived combustible fluid feedstock generates a RIN.According to further embodiments of the invention, the producer orimporter that generates RINs may include a fuel production facility thatproduces partially renewable fuel using renewable hydrogen. Generally,producers or importers can include a biogas production facility, a fuelproduction facility or an intermediary party that facilitates thetransfer of combustible fluid feedstock.

When used as renewable fuel, biogas made from landfills, sewage andwaste treatment plants and manure digesters under the RFS qualifies fora D code of 5, which classifies it as an “advanced biofuel”. Thecombustible fluid feedstock of the present invention is produced orsourced from renewable biomass, including biogas generated fromnon-separated landfill waste. Accordingly, the combustible fluidfeedstock is eligible to generate RINs. (see 40 CFR Table 1 to §80.1426).

In order to generate a RIN associated with renewable fuel, a producer orimporter registers with an administrator of the EPA (referred to hereinas an “EPA administrator”), according to prevailing regulations. (See 40C.F.R. § 80.1450(b)). Registration with the EPA administrator is inadvance of the renewable fuel production date. Information required inthe registration form may include, but is not limited to, the name,business address, contact name and telephone number of the producer orimporter and location of records. (See 40 C.F.R. § 80.76). The EPA willsupply a registration number to the producer or importer and this numberwill be used in reports by the EPA administrator. The EPA will alsoassign the permitted categories of fuels that can be produced under theregistration, and the D-code that is assigned to each type of permittedfuel for RIN generation. The producer or importer will also receivecompany and facility identification numbers, issued by the EPA,typically prior to the generation of any RINs for their fuel. (See 40C.F.R. § 80.1450). In the present invention, the biogas productionfacility, an intermediary or the fuel production facility could registeror provide information with the EPA to generate a RM.

The fuel type code (D-code) of the RIN is an important designation, asthe RFS mandate volumes are set by four nested category groups withdifferent types of fuels qualifying for each category. The nestedcategory groups are differentiated by net GHG savings relative tobaseline and by the fuel type and feedstock source as follows:

-   -   a) total renewable biofuel—greater than 20% GHG savings unless        grandfathered, comprised of conventional biofuels (D code 6) and        advanced biofuels (D code 3, 4, 5, or 7)    -   b) total advanced biofuel—greater than 50% GHG savings,        comprised of cellulosic biofuels (D code 3 or 7), biomass-based        diesel (D-code 4 or 7), and other advanced biofuels (D-code 5)    -   c) cellulosic biofuels—greater than 60% GHG savings, comprised        of biofuel derived from lingo-cellulosic material (D code 3) and        bio-diesel derived lingo-cellulosic material (D-code 7)    -   d) biomass-based diesel—greater than 50% GHG savings, comprised        of conventional biodiesel (D-code 4) or cellulosic diesel        (D-code 7)

The D-code is assigned based upon the fuel type, the feedstock, and theproduction process. Each specific combination of the three components,or fuel pathway, is assigned a RIN D-code, which is used in designatingthe renewable fuel category (renewable fuel, biomass-based diesel,advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel) for which it qualifies.

Certain pathways have D-codes predetermined by the regulations, whileother new pathways must undergo a petition for evaluation by the EPA.When used in transportation, biogas made from landfills, sewage andwaste treatment plants and manure digesters under the RFS has apre-determined D code of 5, which classifies it as an “advanced biofuel”(see 40 CFR Table 1 to § 80.1426). The biogas combustible fluidfeedstock of the present invention would qualify to generate a RIN witha D code of 5. Alternatively, a petition could be made to the EPA toallow the fuel produced by the present invention or any intermediateproduced thereunder to be assigned a D-code.

The producer or importer that generates a RIN reports informationpertaining to the renewable fuel, including, but not limited to, anamount of each batch produced, where “batch” means a discrete quantityof renewable fuel produced or imported and assigned a unique batch-RIN.(See 40 C.F.R. § 80.1451(b)(ii)(J)). This information may be submittedto the EPA using the EPA's Moderated Transaction System (“EMTS”).

Depending on the prevailing regulations, the producer or importer mayreport or provide to a government regulatory agency part or all thefollowing information under 40 C.F.R. § 80.1451 for each batch ofrenewable fuel produced or imported, including, but not limited to, theRIN generator's name; the RIN generator's EPA company registrationnumber; the renewable fuel producer or importer's EPA facilityregistration number; the applicable reporting period; the quantity ofRINs generated for each batch according to 40 C.F.R. § 80.1426; theproduction date of each batch; the fuel type of each batch; the volumeof each batch produced; the types and quantities of feedstock used; theprocess(es) and feedstock(s) used and proportion of renewable volumeattributable to each process and feedstock; and a list of the RINsgenerated and an affirmation that the feedstock(s) used for each batchmeets the definition of renewable biomass as defined in 40 C.F.R. §80.1401. Furthermore, producers or importers of biogas used astransportation fuel, heating fuel or jet fuel as described in 40 C.F.R.§ 80.1426(0(10) and (11), shall report all of the following: the totalenergy produced and supplied for use as a fuel, in units of energy (forexample, MMBtu or MW) based on metering of gas volume or electricity;and the name and location of where the fuel is sold for such uses.

Transferring RINs

The numerical information or RINs associated with the combustible fluidfeedstock or renewable fuel may be provided to a government regulatoryagency and a purchaser of the combustible fluid feedstock or renewablefuel for transfer to an obligated party.

Advantageously, as set out above, transfer of the RIN to an obligatedparty or the generation of a RIN by an obligated party may allow anobligated party to certify compliance with mandated renewable fuelvolumes, or to subsequently separate the RINs and then sell or tradethem. An obligated party may include, but is not limited to, any fuelproduction facility, including a refiner that produces gasoline ordiesel fuel within the 48 contiguous states or Hawaii, or any importerthat imports gasoline or diesel fuel into the 48 contiguous states orHawaii. (See 40 C.F.R. § 80.1406).

An obligated party registers with the EPA. (See 40 C.F.R. § 80.1450(a)).The information specified for registration is set out in 40 C.F.R. §80.76. An obligated party receives an EPA-issued identification numberprior to engaging in any transaction involving RINs in accordance with40 C.F.R. § 80.1450(a).

When a party transfers ownership of a fuel and its associated RIN, thetransferor provides to the transferee, product transfer documents. (See40 C.F.R. § 80.1453). Such documents identify the renewable fuel and anyRINs (whether assigned or separated) and may include part of all of thefollowing information, as applicable: the name and address of thetransferor and transferee; the transferor's and transferee's EPA companyregistration numbers; the volume of renewable fuel that is beingtransferred; the date of the transfer; the per volume price of the RIN,if applicable; the quantity of RINs being traded; the renewable fueltype (D-code); the assignment code (K-code); the RIN generation year;the associated reason for the transaction; and any other applicablerequirements.

Other information submitted to the EPA in connection with the transferof RINs may be in the form of RIN transaction reports, listing RINtransactions, and records relating to the use of RINs for complianceincluding RIN activities. (See 40 C.F.R. § 80.1454).

Separating RINs

As set out above, separation of a RIN from a volume of renewable fuelmeans termination of the assignment of the RIN to a volume of renewablefuel. RIN separation is typically carried out by a fuel blender,importer or obligated party.

Separating RINs means that RINs are not subject to requirements totransfer them with the renewable fuel to which they are associated. Thatis, a separated RIN can be transferred to another party withoutsimultaneously transferring a volume of renewable fuel to that sameparty. Without limitation, this allows a party to conduct RINstransactions, such as trading or selling the RIN, independent of thefuel. According to prevailing regulations, when a RIN is separated, theK code of the RIN is changed to 2.

Separation of RINs may be conducted in accordance with prevailing rulesand regulations, as currently provided in 40 C.F.R. § 80.1129 and 40C.F.R. § 80.1429. RINs generated in accordance with the invention may beseparated and may also be traded.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the partyseparating the RIN may be a fuel production facility, or a party thatreceives and transports combustible fluid feedstock to a fuel productionfacility.

Generation and Transfer of LCFS Credits

The invention also can provide a methodology for meeting low carbon fuelstandards established by states within the United States or othergovernment authorities. Transportation or heating fuels, including fuelsmade from crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbons, have a net GHG emissionlevel associated with their production and this level can be comparedagainst a standard, typically the greenhouse emission standard forgasoline set by the EPA. Due to legislative initiative and mandates,demand for renewable transportation or heating fuels with favorable netGHG emission reductions is increasing. For example, the mix of fuel thatoil refineries and distributors sell into the California market can berequired to meet established targets for GHG emissions. California'sLCFS can require increasing reductions in the average lifecycle GHGemission of most transportation fuels. Targets can be met by trading ofcredits generated from the use of fuels with a lower GHG emission valuethan a gasoline baseline. Similar legislation has been implemented bythe province of British Columbia, Canada, the United Kingdom and by theEuropean Union and is under consideration in certain U.S. states besidesCalifornia. It should be understood, however, that the invention is notlimited to any particular jurisdiction in which a credit can be attainedfor the fuel produced in accordance with the invention.

The conversion of waste organic material into partially renewable orrenewable liquid transportation or heating fuel reduces the utilizationof fossil fuels. It also improves the net GHG footprint of the liquidtransportation or heating fuel and provides a commercial use for wasteorganic material. These benefits can support the acquisition of a GHGcertificate or credit that may or may not be tradable. The certificateor credit may be associated with the transportation fuel or heating fueland represents or is proportional to the amount of lifecycle GHGemissions reduced or replaced. Methane derived from biogas has a betterGHG lifecycle than that derived from natural gas.

Under RFS and LCFS, fuels are characterized by their lifecycle GHGemissions relative to baseline emissions values. For example, under RFS,advanced biofuels have the requirement that they have lifecycle GHGemissions that are at least 50 percent less than baseline lifecycle GHGemissions. To determine this measure, analyses are conducted tocalculate the net GHG impact of the use of particular fuels, and arecompared by reference to the use of gasoline per unit of fuel energy.Lifecycle GHG emissions evaluations generally consider GHG emissions ofeach: (a) the feedstock production and recovery (including if the carbonin the feedstock is of fossil origin (such as with oil or natural gas)or of atmospheric origin (such as with biomass)), direct impacts likechemical inputs, energy inputs, and emissions from the collection andrecovery operations, and indirect impacts like the impact of land usechanges from incremental feedstock production; (b) feedstock transport(including energy inputs, and emissions from transport); (c) fuelproduction (including chemical and energy inputs, emissions andbyproducts from fuel production (including direct and indirectimpacts)); and (d) transport and storage prior to use as a transportfuel (including chemical and energy inputs and emissions from transportand storage).

Advantageously, the use of combustible fluid feedstock to make renewablehydrogen and transportation or heating fuel therefrom reduces thelifecycle GHG emissions compared to the conventional process of usingnatural gas to make non-renewable hydrogen and fuel therefrom.Accordingly, the fuel pathway of the present invention may be eligiblefor the generation of LCFS credits as a result of the GHG savings. LCFScredits would be generated in proportion to the net GHG savingsgenerated relative to gasoline. Such credits would have associatednumerical information, and could be traded by the credit generator, anintermediary, or party obligated under the LCFS.

In addition, this invention could also permit the generation of eitheror both RINs and LCFS credits.

1-53. (canceled)
 54. A method comprising: (a) providing a combustiblefluid feedstock that is processed to produce renewable hydrogen, saidcombustible fluid feedstock comprising: (i) methane derived from biogas,(ii) methane that qualifies under applicable regulations as renewablyderived, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), said renewable hydrogenbeing a feedstock in a process for producing liquid fuel, said processcomprising: (i′) combining the renewable hydrogen with crude oil derivedliquid hydrocarbon in a reactor under conditions to hydrogenate thecrude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon with the renewable hydrogen, and(ii′) providing the liquid fuel as a transportation fuel, said liquidtransportation fuel comprising renewable hydrogen incorporated into thecrude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon; (b) determining an amount of thecombustible fluid feedstock used to produce the renewable hydrogen; (c)determining numerical information relating to the amount of thecombustible fluid feedstock, the renewable hydrogen, or a combinationthereof; and (d) providing the numerical information to support fuelcredit generation, said fuel credit generation dependent on the liquidtransportation fuel being renewable or partially renewable.
 55. Themethod according to claim 54, wherein step (a) comprises: collectingbiogas produced from anaerobic digestion of organic material; purifyingthe collected biogas to produce the combustible fluid feedstock; andintroducing the combustible fluid feedstock into an apparatus configuredfor transporting the combustible fluid feedstock.
 56. The methodaccording to claim 55, wherein the apparatus comprises a container, andwherein step (a) comprises transporting the container by rail, truck, orship.
 57. The method according to claim 55, wherein the apparatuscomprises a pipeline.
 58. The method according to claim 55, wherein thebiogas is obtained from a landfill, a waste treatment facility, or amanure digestion facility.
 59. The method according to claim 54, whereinstep (a) comprises: purifying the biogas to produce the combustiblefluid feedstock; and introducing the combustible fluid feedstock into anapparatus configured for transporting the combustible fluid feedstock.60. The method according to claim 59, wherein the apparatus comprises acontainer, and wherein step (a) comprises transporting the container byrail, truck, or ship.
 61. The method according to claim 59, wherein theapparatus comprises a pipeline.
 62. The method according to claim 59,wherein the biogas is obtained from a landfill, a waste treatmentfacility, or a manure digestion facility.
 63. The method according toclaim 54, wherein combining the renewable hydrogen with crude oilderived liquid hydrocarbon in a reactor comprises subjecting the crudeoil derived liquid hydrocarbon to hydrotreating and hydrocrackingreactions.
 64. The method according claim 54, wherein the liquidtransportation fuel comprises gasoline.
 65. The method according claim54, wherein the liquid transportation fuel comprises diesel.
 66. Themethod according claim 54, wherein the liquid transportation fuelcomprises jet fuel.
 67. The method according to claim 54, comprisinggenerating one or more fuel credits associated with the liquidtransportation fuel.
 68. The method according to claim 67, wherein theone or more fuel credits comprise a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS)credit.
 69. The method according to claim 64, comprising generating oneor more fuel credits associated with the gasoline.
 70. The methodaccording to claim 65, comprising generating one or more fuel creditsassociated with the diesel.
 71. The method according to claim 66,comprising generating one or more fuel credits associated with the jetfuel.
 72. A method comprising: (a) providing a combustible fluidfeedstock, said combustible fluid feedstock comprising: (i) methanederived from biogas, (ii) methane that qualifies under applicableregulations as renewably derived, or (iii) a combination of (i) and(ii), said combustible fluid feedstock used to produce renewablehydrogen that is used in production of a liquid fuel, wherein theproduction of the liquid fuel comprises: (i′) combining the renewablehydrogen with crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon in a reactor underconditions to hydrogenate the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon withthe renewable hydrogen, and (ii′) providing the liquid fuel as atransportation fuel, said liquid transportation fuel comprisingrenewable hydrogen incorporated into the crude oil derived liquidhydrocarbon; (b) determining an amount of the combustible fluidfeedstock used to produce the renewable hydrogen; (c) determiningnumerical information relating to the amount of the combustible fluidfeedstock, the renewable hydrogen, or a combination thereof; and (d)providing the numerical information to support fuel credit generation,said fuel credit generation dependent on the liquid transportation fuelbeing renewable or partially renewable.
 73. A method comprising: (a)providing a combustible fluid feedstock, said combustible fluidfeedstock comprising: (i) methane derived from biogas, (ii) methane thatqualifies under applicable regulations as renewably derived, or (iii) acombination of (i) and (ii), said combustible fluid feedstock used inproduction of a liquid fuel, wherein the production of the liquid fuelcomprises: (i′) processing the combustible fluid feedstock to producerenewable hydrogen; (ii′) combining the renewable hydrogen with crudeoil derived liquid hydrocarbon in a reactor under conditions tohydrogenate the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon with the renewablehydrogen, and (iii′) providing the liquid fuel as a transportation fuel,said liquid transportation fuel comprising renewable hydrogenincorporated into the crude oil derived liquid hydrocarbon in step(ii′); (b) determining an amount of the combustible fluid feedstock usedto produce the renewable hydrogen; (c) generating numerical informationdependent on the amount of combustible fluid feedstock used to producethe renewable hydrogen, said numerical information relating to thecombustible fluid feedstock, the renewable hydrogen, the liquidtransportation fuel, or any combination thereof; and (d) providing thenumerical information to support fuel credit generation, said fuelcredit generation dependent on the liquid transportation fuel beingrenewable or partially renewable.